Drive mechanism.



F. FlTZ-TARR BHJGHAM.

omvs mscggm sm. APPLICATION FILED JAN- I916- Patented July 25, 1916.

FLOYD FTTZTQRR Fzkmsmm FLOYD FITZ-TARR BIN'GHAM, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

naive MECHANISM.

mosaic.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July i916;

Application filed January 11, 1916. Serial No. 71,545.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLoYn -FITZ-TARR BINGHAM, of San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara'and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drive Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. iv 7 In automobiles designed for heavy. commercial use, or for other purposes where it is desirable to employ wheels beyond the usual size, it is desirable that the frame of the vehicle should not be elevated above the usual level for the purpose of readiness in unloading and also to permit the body to be changed. At the same time by having the weight of the vehicle positioned below the center of the wheels increased stability will be obtained. W

My invention relates to a rear axle equipment for motor vehicles which incorporates the desirable features above noted; The object of my invention is to provide an improved drive mechanism adapted for efficient usage with these driving wheels of increased diameter, and which is constructed particularly to permit the employment of these large wheels without necessitating a corresponding elevation of the center of gravity of the car. i

A further object of my invention is to rovide an improved drive mechanism which will. be thoroughly protected against external. injury and the entrance of dust or moisture, and in which a lubricant will be effectually maintained and automatically distributed to the wearing surfaces.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a transverse vertical sectional view of a traction wheel and :1 portion of the rear lrivc axle, embodying fcatiu'es of the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken on l ne 2--2 of Fig. 1.

in the drawing, 1 indicates a, hollow supporting axle extending from a dillfercntiah guru-casing 2, and constituting a partol' the running gear for supporting the rear body springs (not shown), ifllllfllllltdl at -l and?) hollow axle 1 and operativel v c(')a,\{iall' v within. the connected to any usual. dilfercntial gear tin the casing said stub axles a driveshult 3 being- The differential 6 may be driven by any suitable means but is preferably actuated by a spiral gear 7.

Oil-tight annular casings S are shown provided with bosses 9 and 10 for rigidly securing them on the ends of the hollow axle 1, and these casings are also provided on their outer sides with apertures 11 in which are rotatably mounted the hubs 12 of the driving wheels 13. The hubs 12 of the driving wheels are provided inside the casings 8 with integral gears 14, which mesh with large internal toothed gears 15. Mounted concentrically with the inner annularsurfaces of the casings 8, on bolts 16, are a plurality of freely rotatable rollers 17 between the rim flanges 18 of,which move the peripheries of the large gears 15. These large gears 15 are rotated by means of gears 19, which are rigidly mounted within-thecasings 8 on the ends of the drive shaft 3, and these gears 15 are adapted to" actuate the gears 14: on the hubs 12.

Stub axles 20 are rigidly mounted at 21 in the casings 8 and extend coaxially through the hubs 12; the free outer ends 0f 20 being connected, as by nuts 22, to the wheel bearings 23. The hubs 12' are thus rotatably supported at their inner ends by the bearings 24, and at their outer ends by the bearings 23, thereby 'pro viding a very eliicient dri we connection 0perating with a minimum of friction.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that my invention provides an improved construction, in which the gears 15 and 19 can be formed of suitable size to position the center of gravity of the car as low as desired irrespective of the size of the driving wheels employed; and that the relative proporthms-of the gears 15 and 19 can be readily designed to provide any required speed change in the drive mechanism.

My invention provides an improved construction, in which the entire weight of the car is firmly carried on the running gear, thereby relieving the drive mechanism from all load; thus providing a construction 0pending at high olliciency with a minimum of strain and l'riction.

Obviously the design. and details ofconstruction may be varied without departing 'i'rom the spirit of the invention and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact constructlon shown.

' hat'I claim and desire to secure by Lettersu Patent is: t 1' L'iiIna -motor'car, the combination with ahollow supporting axle, a shaft journaled 3 therein, a casing extending upwardlyfronr the end of said axle and'provided above the same with a stub axle, a driving Wheel hav ing a hubjournaledl on said axle, a gear provided upon said hub, an internally toothed gear rotatably mounted in said cas ing and engaging said hub gear, and a gear proyided upon-the end of saiii shaft for also engaging said internally toothed gear.

' 2. 'Ina'motor ear, the combination with a hollow supporting" axle, a shaft journaledl thereimqacasing extending upwardly from the ent} of said axle and provided above I 'samewith a stub axle, a driving Wheel haw- .ing the hubyvhichjis' journ'aled on saidaxle," a gear provided upon said hub,f"an internally toothed gear rotatably mounted in said oasingandengaging said hub am a a gear provided upon the end "of said shaft 'ft'or also engagin said internally t othed 25 .geer,ffsaid hub gear and shaftgearbeing in -"--ve1 tica1 alinement. v a v hollow euppoi t-ing axle, a shaft journaled therein, a'casing extending upwardly from theend of said axle and provided also above the same with a stub axle, a dfiviiig Wheel j provided upon thelend otsaigiflhaft anel gaging said inte 'nally toothed gear.

havin a hub journaledon said axle, a gear pi'ovi ed upons'aid hub a piui'aiity of freely rotatable irollers moimted-an' said casing an internally toothed gear ha' vingitsfperiphery 35 engaging said rollers, said, hub; gea .engagv ing said internally toothed geaiyand a gear 4'. In a motor car, the combinetionf-withfa hollow supporting axle; afshaftijoui'naied" therein a casing'extendin ,upwar'clly ,i l'bm the-end of said axle ancl freely rotatable rollers mounted ineaifi naeing en internallytoothed-"g een heiiing'its I periphery engaging 'said ioilegs, faihuhjgeau- 

